Attenborough decides “to leave the BBC once again” in order to produce and host his own series, which he would pitch to “whoever my successor might be” (54). He is impressed by the format pioneered by BBC2, in which roughly hour-long programs would detail “big and important subjects,” though he felt that the most important one—that of the story of life on the planet—was being ignored (53). Thus, he wants to tackle this enormous story himself. In due time, this occurs, and Attenborough spearheads and hosts the groundbreaking Life on Earth series, originally aired in 1979.

In the course of making the series, Attenborough meets famed biologist Dian Fossey, who brought the world’s attention to the plight of gorillas—hunted by poachers in ever-shrinking forests—in Rwanda (see Further Reading & Resources for more on her legacy). Though she was ill, she was able to procure guides to assist Attenborough and his crew in looking for and interacting with the great apes. After watching from a respectful distance for a time, Attenborough was amazed when a mother and her infants approached him. The mother tapped him on the head, inspected his mouth, and let her infants play with his shoes. As Attenborough describes the experience, “I was in a delirium of happiness,” leaving the scene “with a feeling of extraordinary privilege” (60).